‘Tis The Season For Scammers: AARP Wyoming Shares Holiday Fraud Red Flags

The holidays are supposed to be about family, food, and generosity — not fraud. But for cybercriminals and con artists, this is prime hunting season. With more shopping, more travel, and more donating, there are also more chances for scammers to slip in, County 10 reports.

AARP Wyoming is warning residents to stay sharp and has laid out some of the most common holiday scams — and how to dodge them.

Crooks know you’re hunting for deals, so they spin up slick-looking websites and ads offering hot items at crazy-low prices. You click, you pay… and what shows up may be junk — or nothing at all.

How to protect yourself:

• Be suspicious of huge discounts on high-demand items.
• Don’t click shopping links from random emails, texts, or social media ads.
• Go straight to the retailer’s official website or app.
• Pay with a credit card, which offers better protections if something goes wrong.

With packages flying around the country, scammers jump in by sending fake emails or texts that look like they’re from UPS, FedEx, or USPS. They claim there’s an issue with a delivery and ask you to click a link.

That link can lead to:

• A fake sign-in page that steals your personal info;
• A malicious site that installs malware on your device.

Your move:

• Don’t click links from unexpected delivery messages.
• If you think there’s a real issue, go directly to the shipping carrier’s website or app and track the package there.

Gift cards are an easy present — and an easy target.

Scammers sometimes grab stacks of cards off the rack, record the numbers, then put them back. Once you buy and load the card, they drain the money before your recipient ever uses it.

Safer options:

• Buy gift cards kept behind the counter, not from open racks.
• Or buy digital or physical cards directly from the retailer’s website.

Package theft has become a full-time gig for some thieves, and the holidays only crank it up. “Porch pirates” swipe millions of boxes from doorsteps every year.

Help keep your deliveries safe:

• Turn on delivery alerts so you know exactly when a package arrives.
• If you won’t be home, ask a trusted neighbor or friend to grab it.
• Leave delivery instructions to stash packages out of sight.
• Request a signature on delivery for more valuable items.
• Use pickup options like ship-to-store or secure lockers when available.
• Going out of town? Use vacation holds from USPS, FedEx, or UPS so your stuff isn’t piling up outside.

And don’t underestimate the power of community:
Work with neighbors to keep an eye on each other’s deliveries and watch local updates on porch theft through neighborhood apps, Crimestoppers, or law enforcement social media pages.

Holiday travel chaos is a scammer’s dream. Canceled or delayed flights push people to search for airline customer service numbers — and that’s where fake call centers come in.

Scammers will pay to get their bogus numbers to the top of search results. Once you call, they pretend to be “agents” and may:

• Push you to buy new tickets immediately;
• Claim you have to pay to be rebooked after a cancellation;
• Ask for your credit card and personal information.

Avoid the trap:

• Download your airline’s official app and use the contact info listed there.
• Be wary of any “agent” insisting you must pay a fee just to be rebooked — in most cases, that’s not how it works.
• Watch for high-pressure tactics like “You must pay right now or lose this price.”

This is also the time of year when many people open their wallets for good causes — and scammers know it.

Fraudsters set up fake charities or copycat organizations with names and websites that sound almost like real ones. Then they flood inboxes, texts, and social feeds with urgent pleas for money.

Red flags to watch for:

• Requests to donate via gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency;
• High-pressure tactics: “Donate right now or this opportunity is gone”;
• Sloppy or suspicious website addresses that mimic legit organizations.

How to safely donate:

• Research the group first on sites like give.org, CharityNavigator.org, or CharityWatch.org.
• Double-check the exact charity name and web address.
• Don’t click donation links from unsolicited emails or texts — go directly to the charity’s verified site.
• Use a credit card for donations so you can track charges and dispute fraud if needed.
• Consider making your own list of charities you support each year, so you give on your terms, not in response to random requests.

If something feels off — or you think you’ve been caught in a scam — you don’t have to figure it out alone.

You can contact the AARP Fraud Watch Network™ for guidance. Call their free helpline at 877-908-3360 to talk with a fraud specialist about what to do next.

The holidays should be about celebrations, not scams. A little skepticism, a few smart steps, and you can keep your money — and your peace of mind — right where they belong.